Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara representatives and local officials broke ground at a new income-restricted housing project at 15 S. Hope Ave. on Wednesday.
Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara representatives and local officials break ground at a new income-restricted housing project at 15 S. Hope Ave. on Wednesday. Credit: Evelyn Spence / Noozhawk photo

A new income-restricted housing project from the Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara could have occupants by fall 2027.

The Housing Authority on Wednesday broke ground on the roughly $44 million project at a 0.8-acre lot located within the City of Santa Barbara limits. The Housing Authority purchased the land in 2023.

The four-story development at 15 S. Hope Ave. will have 46 rental units: 17 studios, 13 one-bedroom apartments and 16 two-bedroom apartments.

Forty-five units will be income-restricted; one of the two-bedroom units will house an on-site manager. 

Twenty-three units will be set aside for people with developmental or mental-health disabilities.

Nineteen parking spots will be built on the ground level, with the housing units above. 

The four-story income-restricted housing development at 15 S. Hope Ave. will have 46 units: 17 studios, 13 one-bedroom apartments and 16 two-bedroom apartments.
The four-story income-restricted housing development at 15 S. Hope Ave. will have 46 units: 17 studios, 13 one-bedroom apartments and 16 two-bedroom apartments. Credit: Courtesy rendering

Residents will pay 30% of their income toward rent — utilities included — with assistance offered through the Section 8 housing program. 

Construction completion under contractor McGillivray Construction is set for roughly 18 months from Wednesday. 

Authority Executive Director Rob Fredericks said residents should be able to move in within a month of completion. 

“Today is more than a groundbreaking,” Fredericks said at the ceremony. “It’s about building stability, dignity and opportunity right here in Santa Barbara. This lot has sat underutilized for years, and now it becomes part of a solution to the local housing crisis.” 

Years from now, he said, “people won’t remember this small groundbreaking. They won’t remember the ribbon cutting that we’re gonna hold in 18 months. But 46 households will remember what this place meant for their lives.” 

From left, City of Santa Barbara Mayor Randy Rowse and Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara Executive Director Rob Fredericks at the groundbreaking for an income-restricted housing project at 15 S. Hope Ave. on Wednesday.
From left, City of Santa Barbara Mayor Randy Rowse and Housing Authority of the City of Santa Barbara Executive Director Rob Fredericks at the groundbreaking for an income-restricted housing project at 15 S. Hope Ave. on Wednesday. Credit: Evelyn Spence / Noozhawk photo

The residents will also be offered supportive services, such as connection with local healthcare services, as well as financial literacy and job training, Fredericks said, “so these households can truly thrive.” 

The project is funded through a Banc of California loan, Enterprise Community Capital through the federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program, the Tri-Counties Regional Center, and a loan from the city of Santa Barbara. 

Authority Deputy Executive Director Dale Fathe-Aazam and Santa Barbara Mayor Randy Rowse also spoke at the ceremony and thanked the people involved in the project. 

“It’s a real honor from the city of Santa Barbara to be able to include this in the inventory that we have for our affordable housing,” Rowse said. 

— Noozhawk South County editor Evelyn Spence can be reached at espence@noozhawk.com. Follow Noozhawk on Twitter: @noozhawk, @NoozhawkNews and @NoozhawkBiz. Connect with Noozhawk on Facebook.